Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-22

L VoO tu8l HI the 6OlA ~
Two engine companies be run A. hoss co..
psnies the other, that in addition to tha..
companies short lines Of hose IN G.h,
carriages be stationed in different mart, NJ
tue city with small companies of yoluntee,
eau men TO run with each, and to be Maid bv
.ne nour for time actually in service. Such
companies could be stationed on Cn.hroc
heights and at Pettengill's Corner and A.
respond promptly to alarms 10 those section.
tcus De ready to extinguish fires At their in
ception, which is the object to be Attained in
any process of Reorganization. The onlv
ooJecton to this method might be the po.,;bje
necessary outlay for hose carriages. extra
nose ana houses for storing the apparatus.
ana IN view OF the urgent necessity for :
nook ana ladder truck of some kind Won NAV
ueem IL best to defer making any changes re.
4uHing any considerable outlay. The depart.
nent nave responded promptly to every
ia curing the year and its efficiency is Of
Poor DEPARTMENT.
enter upon the consideration of the
anairs OF this quite frequently criticised de.
partment with some hesitation. have
spent some considerable time during last vaar
IN the endeavor to ascertain what are II.
needs and in what way we can hes. moot
them,and after the most careful ipouirv CON.
1ess myself entirely incompetent to point on,
changes that will be certain to inure to the
Oehent OF the city. | believe the Board of
O.erseers have acted honestly and con.
scientiously IN the determination of the many
pefpiexing questions that have arisen. and
.he experience of our overseers both as re-
garos the many technical points constantly
ARISING In pauper cases as we'll
as their very general acquaintance with the
large class of unfortunate REGIMENTS of the
city, help enable them to judiciouslv disnense
this aid without being imposed upon by un.
worthy persons who, rather than earn their
own living by honest labor. prefer to subsist
upon the city's charity. would suggest that
all the bills for this department be presented
TO the Committee on Accounts, to be treated bv
them the same as other demands against the
city. Also as find that we are annually pay-
ing out large cum (probably one-third of
our appropriately for the assistance of per-
sons having settlement here but who are
scattered all over the State, that we make it
rule to insist that such persons shall be
brought here where our overseers can gain a
better knowledge of the merits of each case.
Also whether it would not be we'll for com
mlttee OF the Council to gather with one or
more OF the Overseers to ascertain from some
OF our larger cities what methods are in use
IN their poor departments, and how their
books and accounts are KEEP tand audited, and
II some Improvements can not be introduced
IN our service so we can make saving from
the present cost. The Aims House has been
well managed BY Mr.. Walden and his
estimable wife.
Police.
The police force has remained throughout
the year as constituted at the beginning and
the best evidence of its efficiency is the good
order maintained on our streets and the fact
that no complaints have been made to me by
any one against either the Marshal or any
of his officers (outsde the question of the
enforcement of the liquor laws that they
at all failed to meet the expectation of the
public. The large number of men drawn
here from all parts of the State to find en-
ployment upon the water works quite largely
increased the labors of the police, as many of
these men were of that class of rowing char.
acters who have little regard for the rights of
others. so naturally required good deal of
attention on the part of members of the force
In view of the fact that our county Jail has
acquired quite wide spread reputation as
the Mecca to which all tranpdom seems tend.
ing, it is source of congratulation that so
small portion are committed from this
CT y, and the example set by our officers for
keeping this fraternity marching on is one to
be commended to our neighborng mum.
cpalities, which are 80 largely represented in
the so called paradise on the hill.
TEMPERANCE.
The question of temperance is so con.
nected with the work of the police that it
seems proper that say word here on that
subject, and wish l might add something
that would be a practical benefit in the sou-
ton of this great question that has such a
prominent place in the minds, not only of our
own fellow citizens but Of the people through
out this land as WELL Tia: some progress
has been made in this matter the past year in
Augusta l think it safe to assert. That every
thing desirable hat not been accomplished |
freely admit and yet believe that the men,
bers of these two boards have conscientious
ly endeavored to secure the enforcement of
these liquor laws, and because so much of
success in this matter rs we had hoped has
not been achieved should be no cause of dis
enlargement for the future. The TEN.
perance Alliance recently formed in this city
is an organic alton comprising many of our
best citizens banded together for the purpose
of creating a right public sentiment on this
question of liquor selling, as well as aiding
the officers of the law in performing the
difficult duty of enforcing the law against
the sale of strong drink. The city government
should meet the members of this order in
in the right spirit, and in every laudsble way
cooperate with them in suppressing traffic
that late distinguished citizen of Augusta
so fitly designated as 1.-The gigantic crime of
crimes"
No officer is justified in regarding the en-
forcement of the prohibitory laws as in any
sense discretionary with him any more than
laws against other crimes, and as in your
hands is the making and unmaking of all the
city officers, so to a large extent shall we be
held responsible for any neglect on their
part to properly enforce these laws.
CONCLUSION.
You will soon have before you the report
of the City Solicitor ard the Secretary of the
Board of Health, showing in detail the condi-
ton of city business covered by those de
partments and had in mind other matters
of interest to bring to your attention, but as
this communication is already too extended,
and realizing that BY our works, and not by
our words shall we be judged, have to re-
turn my thanks to the members of the old City
Council for their hearty cooperation in the
accomplishment of whatever of success we
NAV have achieved, and to my fellow citizens
for the honor of being called again to serve
them in this position, and invoking that
Providential guidance so essential to insure
-. .c,oll uueasure of auccesa let US set